All 28 chief ministers attend NITI Aayog meeting
In a rare show of full participation, chief ministers from all 28 states attended the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi. The meeting, held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on Thursday, June 11, 2026, marked a major shift from recent years, when several opposition-ruled states had skipped or boycotted the council’s annual discussions.
PM Modi pushes youth jobs and skilling
Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Modi said India is moving ahead with confidence despite global uncertainty and instability. He stressed that building a strong ecosystem for the country’s youth must remain a top priority. According to him, quality education, demand-based skilling and employment generation are essential for India’s long-term growth.
The Prime Minister also referred to India’s recent free trade agreements and said they could open new opportunities for MSMEs. He said small businesses must prepare for global markets by improving standards, competitiveness and production quality. This message is important because job creation cannot depend only on government schemes. Industry readiness, export capacity and skilled workers will decide how far these opportunities actually go.
Women-led development central to Viksit Bharat
PM Modi also highlighted women-led development as a core pillar of the Viksit Bharat vision. He said women are contributing across farming, startups, science, innovation and other major sectors. States were urged to focus on women’s education, safety, skilling and empowerment to unlock their full economic and social potential.
The emphasis on women-led development reflects a broader policy push to increase women’s participation in the workforce and public life. However, the real challenge for states will be implementation. Safety, access to jobs, affordable training and support for women entrepreneurs need sustained action beyond policy statements.
Full attendance marks shift from recent boycotts
The meeting stood out because previous NITI Aayog Governing Council sessions had seen several absences. In recent years, multiple chief ministers, especially from opposition-led states, stayed away citing political differences, prior commitments or concerns over Centre-state relations. This year’s full attendance gave the meeting a stronger cooperative federalism message.
After the council meeting, some chief ministers also met Prime Minister Modi separately and discussed state-specific issues and development priorities. The wider participation signals that states may be willing to use national policy forums more actively, even when political differences remain. For the Viksit Bharat goal to move beyond slogans, the Centre and states will need consistent coordination on jobs, infrastructure, education, MSME growth and women’s empowerment.
